Abstract

HIV-positive than in the HIV-negative participants (46.9% vs 32.3%, p < 0.001). Among those with HSIL at baseline, the clearance rate was similar between HIV-positive and -negative participants (38.4 vs 38.0 per 100PY, p = 0.636). Conclusions Gay men in SPANC reported multiple sexual partners across the adult age-range, and incident HPV16 continued to be detected in men up to their seventh decade of life. This suggests that HPV vaccination of adult gay men may prevent infection and have a role in cancer prevention. Anal HSIL is highly prevalent, particularly among HIV-positive men, but there are high rates of clearance without treatment. These data suggest that a screening test which can distinguish persistent from transient HSIL is required. The role of HPV biomarkers in identifying those HSIL lesions most likely to persist should be investigated.